Synchro Hosts North Regional Championships – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/1/2001 12:00:00 AM | Artistic Swimming
March 1, 2001
The Ohio State synchronized swimming team will host the Big Ten schools at the North Regional Championships this weekend at the Mike Peppe Aquatic Center at Larkins Hall. The meet will begin at 7 a.m. and go until 6 p.m.
Buckeyes `B’ Team Stomps Spiders
The Buckeye `B’ team traveled for a dual meet with the University of Richmond Spiders, Feb. 17. The Buckeyes beat the Spiders, 87-80, overall. Ann Marie Altman (Sr., Columbus, Ohio) took first place in the solo, scoring 88.4. Katie Meyer (Fr., Cincinnati, Ohio) and Kim Lester (Fr., Cincinnati, Ohio) were first place in the duet event with the score of 85.3. For the trio event, Julie Fredrick (Sr., Williamsville, N.Y.), Chana Rosen (Jr., Richmond, Va.) and Meyers nabbed a first place win with the score of 85.2. Competing in the first place `B’ team routine with the score of 92.2 was Altman, Ellen Faulhaber (Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio), Frederick, Sharon Mejia (So., Vallejo, Calif.), Meyer, Rosen, Leilani Torres (Jr., San Juan, Puerto Rico) and Brianna Walker (Fr., Cleves, Ohio).
No. 1 In The Nation
The 2000 national champion Buckeyes are no stranger to success, having regained the national title last season. Over the past 24 years, the Buckeyes have claimed 20 national titles, including 13-consecutive from 1985-1997. The Buckeyes were second only to Stanford in 1998 and `99. OSU beat its rival at the Collegiate National Championship last year in Columbus.
Olympians Return To Columbus
Brazilian twins Carolina and Isabela Moraes are back from Down Under and back on the roster after a nine-month hiatus. The twins competed in the 2000 Olympic summer games in Sydney, Australia, where they took 12th place in the duet competition.
Down To Crunch Time
National Championships, March 29-31 will be hosted this year by the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va. At the championship, the Buckeyes will fight to defend the National title that they took in 2000 from rival Stanford. Stanford is the most competive team the Buckeyes have faced and they meet just once a season at Nationals.
On The Mark
The OSU College Association Meet, held Feb. 19, marked Ohio State’s season-best scores in the solo, duet, trio, and senior figures. Victoria Bowen won first place in the solo with the season-best score of 94.33. Carolina and Isabela Moraes produced the season best in the duet, scoring 96.467. The Moraes twins with Mary Hofer hold the season best in the trio with their score last weekend of 95.600. Carolina Moraes made the season best record for a third spot in senior figures with her score of 82.834.
Twins and Hofer Can’t Be Beat
Twins, Carolina and Isabela Moraes and Mary Hofer are juniors this year, which makes this season the third in a row that the trio has been undefeated. The unbeatable trio received their top score in the event last season at the Collegiate National Championships, with the score of 96.933.
Head Coach Linda Lichter-Witter
Head Coach Lichter-Witter has nearly three decades of coaching experience. This will be her sixth year of coaching the OSU synchronized swimming team. Lichter-Witter maintains an outstanding overall record of 187-3. She is 3-0 this season so far. She has also earned five regional titles for the Scarlet &Gray. Under Lichter-Witter, the Buckeyes have won three national championships (1996-97, 2000) and finished as national runners-up for two years (1998-99).
Lichter-Witter has coached 26 All-Americans, one USSSI Collegiate Swimmer of the Year, Ana Cukic and five Olympians including current team members, Carolina and Isabela Moraes.
Seven Buckeyes On National Team II
Head Coach Linda Lichter-Witter is coaching the National Team II this year in addition to the Buckeyes. Lichter-Witter was a coach of the National Team II from 1972-1996 and is returning for the first time in four years. Seven Buckeyes have made the team. Mary Hofer, Victoria Bowen, Suzanna Hyatt, Katie Edwards, Anna Eng, Ellen Faulhaber, Heather Moore, and Kim Lester all made the team that will represent the U.S. in Switzerland in July.
Perfect Record At North Regionals
The Buckeyes remain undefeated at North Regional Championships since 1990. In 1998 the Buckeyes scored their highest overall points at the North Regional Championship, scoring 111. Last year, the Buckeyes scored 93 but remained far above the competition to continue the streak of first-place wins at the meet that the Buckeyes have historically hosted and won.
Family Ties
Head Coach Linda Lichter-Witter has signed Lauren Marsh of Spring Valley, Calif. to the Buckeye roster for the 2001-02 season. She is the younger sister of OSU synchro alumna, Emily Marsh, who was a national champion in the duet in 1995-97 and in the trio in 1995-96.
OSU synchro has a history of family tradition. Twin sisters, Sara and Karen Josephson were national champions from 1982-85 who went on to the Olympics. Brazilian twins Carolina and Isabela Moraes are undefeated for the Buckeyes and Lichter-Witter’s daughter-in-law, Annemarie Lichter is the OSU choreographical coach..
